Consider the fact that hardly any terror cells are busted during the normal course of events despite the fact that rules for fighting terror are so stringent. The NSG is only sent in after a strike. Repeated attacks take place yet nothing much
seems to happen on the ground, which doesn’t quite inspire confidence.
The essential problem remains India’s response to terrorism. Till such time as terrorism is treated as a law & order problem and not as a separate issue, the fight will never gain teeth. One is reminded of what Sherlock Homes said, “If the shield of law has failed, then the sword of justice shall avenge”. With the shield in abeyance, the sword is bound to remain unsheathed. Indian law enforcers need to swiftly solve such cases.
The geostrategic environment in our neighbourhood is gripping. Maldives is still in the throes of turmoil; Bangladesh has recently seen am anti-India, military coup and the Teesta water treaty lies unresolved. Pakistan continues to deny the most-favoured nation status to India while the
US has announced an early drawdown from Afghanistan. Added to this is the turmoil in the Middle East.
India needs to send out a firm message regarding a host of issues but most importantly, about its response to terrorism on its own soil. Meanwhile, the Iran-Israel rivalry has landed at our doorstep with the bomb attack on an Israeli diplomat in the Capital.
The track record in solving terror attacks is dismal and this may have been one of the reasons for them selecting Delhi more often than not. There are many conspiracy theories doing the rounds and till this is sorted out, all they will remain is theories.
India needs to see both the larger frame and the smaller picture because till both are cohesive, the atmosphere will remain unclear for lack of policy direction.
The attack on the Israeli diplomat took place in a high-security area of Delhi. Being the National Capital, Delhi alone should be a deterrent to any terrorist; a secure zone in the Capital should be giving him cold feet but alas, the reality is not so. Not only was the crime committed, but the perpetrators got away.
In context, within two days of 9/11, the Americans had the necessary photographs and this was also so in the case of the London tube attacks. In India, the CCTV is never working and the nation needs to look towards foreign agencies for assistance.
A large number of exotically-named agencies have been formed and are in the process of being formed, taking years to fructify. Any numbers of experts give excellent advice on television after each and every terror attack. We are a nation that knows what has to be done, yet nothing happens on ground.
The Indian track record is poor and why? Because the police force has geared up the constable with shiny new toys that impress all, but on ground, are unable to produce results. The police are so used to the prestige of VIP duty — with all the trappings of power — that they it seems to have forgotten the actual work, a case of the lap dog forgetting how to be a guard dog.
In the case of the blast on Aurangzeb Road, the first 30 minutes - that matter the most - were lost to authorities’ vehement denials that there was any explosion. Generally, this particular road has proper police detail outside various well-protected houses, being a high-security zone.
The very fact that the attacker got clean away points to the fact that there was no coordination between the various guards. The road could have been picketed and blocked in seconds if there had been a concerted effort by the force.
There were no media reports of any quick reaction team rushing to the spot and there was hardly any mention of police vans. The wounded were not rushed to hospitals in ambulances but under their own arrangements. Why was this the state of affairs after so many attacks, that too in a VIP area?
There is an urgent need for better training from the grass roots level. Currently, the numbers are adding up with recruitment but the intelligence network and ability to collect and collate intelligence, put an area under surveillance or do excellent investigation are all missing.
Another instance is the Aarushi murder case, which clearly does not inspire any confidence in the police’s investigation skills. As far as emergency response is concerned, our record is pathetic to any situation, including natural calamities.
The Indian State has such a segmented approach to fighting terrorism that instead of having a central location - where the debris of explosion can be kept at one place in a sanitised atmosphere for follow-up - teams form the US or Israel will go to some thana to see the remains of this car.
The approach is so compartmentalised that apparently, even the NSG was not allowed to see the debris.
How can the India present its cohesive might to the world if inter-departmental rivalry within its cities is going to decide the outcome of events? What is missing is not higher strategic direction but just a strong will on ground, which is sadly missing. This will remain until the larger frame and the smaller picture gel.
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